Tuning device for musical instruments



Dec. 22, 1931. A. LOOMIS TUNiNG DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSERUMENTS Filed May-17, 1930 Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE ALLEN LOOMIS, OF ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR To 0. G. OONN, LTD., or ELKHART, I INDIANA, A OORPORATION OF INDIANA TUNING DEVICE FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed May 17, 1930. Serial No. 453,344.

This invention relates to wind musical instruments of the reed type.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved tuning device for wind musical instruments of the clarinet type, or any similar reed musical instrument.

Another object of my invention is to provide a joint between the instrument mouthpiece and the instrument body in which a tuning device is incorporated.

A third object of the invention is to provide an improved tuning barrel joint for clarinets, and the like, wherein one end tele scopes into the tubular instrument body and the other end is provided with a socket for receiving the end of the clarinet mouthpiece.

Other objects of my invention are mentioned and described herein.

The preferred embodiment ofmy invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein I v I Figure 1 is an exterior view in elevation showing the assembled tuning barrel joint;

Fig. 2 is a similar view in section;

Fig. 3 illustrates an exterior elevational view of an assembly composed of several only of the parts of the tuning barrel joint;

Fig. 4 is an exterior elevational view of the outside sliding sleeve; 2 v

Fig. 5 is a perspective of the same member;

Fig. 6 is a sectional elevational view of the adjusting nut; j n

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the thrust or locking ring; and 2 Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8-8 of Fig. 2.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views on the drawings. A 7

Referring now to the drawings and par ticularly to Figures 1 and 2, wherein an assembly of my improved tuning device is illustrated, the device comprises, generally, the mouthpiece receiver or holder 1; the guide member 2 rigidly connected therewith; the

inside tubular slide element 3 rigidly connected in the bore of member 2; the outside sliding sleeve 4; the adjusting nut 5 which sleeves elements 2 and 4 and which is screw threaded to member 45 for longitudinally actuating the latter, and the mouthpiecenot shownto be carried thereby; and the thrust or locking ring 6 which retains said adjusting nut in operative relation with members 1 and 2.

The sliding sleeve 4 maybe provided with a cork sleeve 7 which is adapted to fit and seal within thetubular end of a clarinet, or like instrument. The guide element 2 may be ring-like in formation and is provided with the integral annular channeled head section 8 which has its depending annular flange section 9 rigidly connected with the bore of the cylindrical member 1 by a screw thread connection at 10 to which may be added solder to effect a permanent connection thereat.

The annular channel in head 8 of element 2 is somewhat loosely engaged by the annular outwardly extending flange 11 formed on the outer end of the tubular adjusting nut 5, the

arrangement of said nut flange in said head channel being rotatably maintained by the thrust or looking ring 6 which may be removably screw threaded into the lower portion of the screw threads 10. When ring 6 is thus mounted in the end of the member 1 and into contact with the lower end of the head flange 9 and into overlapping relation with the nut flange 11 it enables free rotative movement of the nut 5 and its flange 11 in said channel, and whereby displacement of the nut flange 11 is prevented. The ring 6 may be provided with a plurality of wrench sockets 12 to enable wrench application thereto for operation of said ring into and out of engagement with the screw threads 10.

Theguide member 2 is providedwith a pair of opposed prongs 13 and 14 which project longitudinally of the slide 3 into the interstices of a similar pair of prongs 15 and16 formed on the end of the tubular slide member 4 which sleeves element 3. The tubular adjusting nut'5 encompasses the upper end of element 4 and the prongs 13 and 14 of guide member 2, there being a screw thread connection at 17 between the bore of said nut and the exteriorof member 4 adjacent the base of the prongs 15 and 16s The slide 3 is preferably soldered into the bore of member 2.

As heretofore stated the cork sleeve -7 on the end of member 4 is adapted to be thrust into the open bore of a clarinet body, or like instrument, and when thus arranged, the tone of the instrument may be altered by rotating the nut 5 which causes the nut to advace longitudinally of the sleeve a, thereby ei'l'ecting longitudinal sliding movement of the members 1, 2 and 3, whereby the air column within the member 3 may be changed at will, according to the direction of rotation ol" the nut 5.

I claim:

1. A combined tuning device and joint of the character described comprising a tubular mouthpiece holder, a ringlilre guide member provided with anannular enlarged channeled head-which is rigidly mounted in the bore of said holder, a'tubular slide member rigidly connected with said guide member, a tubular member slidably sleeving said tubularv slide member, anon-advancing adjusting nut rotatably connected with the channeled head of said guide member, a complementary spiral connection between said adjusting nut and the slidable sleeve, and means connecting said guide member and slidable sleeve to cause the latter to move reciprocallywhen said adjusting nut is rotated.

2. A combined tuning device and joint of the character described comprising in combination a tubular mouthpiece holder, a ring like-guide member provided with an annular enlarged channeled head which is rigidly mounted adjacent one endof said holder, a tubularslide memberrigidly connected with said guide member, a tubular member slidablysleeving said tubular slide member, a non-advancing tubular adjusting nut rotatably connected with the channeled head of said guide member, a complementary spiral connection between said adjusting nut and the tubular slidable member, and a complementary prong and slot connection between said guide member and the tubular slidable member to cause the latter to move reciprocallywhen said adjusting nut is rotated.

3. A combined tuning device and joint of the character described comprislng 1n combination a tubular mouthpiece holder, a ring- 'likeguide member provided with an enlarged head which is rigidly mounted upon said holder adjacent one end thereof, a tubular slide member rigidly mounted in said guide member axially thereof, a tubular member slidablyencompassing said sl1de member, a tubular rotatable ad usting nut, a complementary :flange and groove connection between said adjusting nut and the guide member head, a complementary spiralconnection betweensaid adjusting nut and the tubular slidable member, and a complementarv prong and slot conne tion between said guide member and thetubular slid able member to cause the latter to move reciprocally when Said adjusting nut is rotated.

4. A combined tuning device and joint of the character described comprising in combination a tubular mouthpiece holder, a ringlike guide member of lesser diameter than said holder and provided with an enlarged head which is rigidly mounted upon said holder adjacent one end thereof, a tubular slide member rigidly mounted in said guide member axially thereof, a tubular member slidably encompassing said slide member, a tubular rotatable adjusting nut, a complementary flange and groove connection between said adjusting nut and the guide member head, a complementary spiral connection between said adjusting nut and the tubular slidable member, and means connecting said guide member and slidable tubular member to cause the latter to move reciprocally when said adjusting nut is rotated.

5. A, combined tuning device and joint oi the character described comprising in com bination a tubular mouthpiece holder, a ring like guide member provided with an enlarged head which is rigidly connected with said holder ad acent one end thereof, a tuflange and ,groove connection between saidadjusting nut and the guide member head, one-wall of said groove being removable to enable iemoval of said adjusting nut, a complementary spiral connection between said adjusting nut and the tubular slidable mem ber, and a complementary prong and slot connection-between said guide member and the tubular slidable member to cause the latter to move reciprocally when said adjusting nut is rotated.

6. A combined-tuning device and joint of the character described com arising a tubular mouthpiece holder, a ring-like guide member provided with an enlarged head which is rigidly mounted upon said holder adjacent one end thereof, a tubular slide member rigidly mounted in the-bore of said guide member, a tubular member slidably encompassing said slide member and slidably connected with said guide member, a tubular rotatable adjusting nut, acomplementary spiral connection between said adjusting nut and the tubular slidable member, and a complementary flange and groove connection between said adjusting nut and mouthpiece holder to prevent longitudinal movement of said adjusting nut when the latteris rotated, said connection lying wholly within said mouthpiece holder.

17. A combined tuning device and joint of the character described comprising a tubular mouthpiece holder, a ring-like guide member provided with an enlarged head which is rigidly mounted in the bore of said.

holder, a tubular slide member rigidly mounted in the bore of said guide member, a tubular member slidably encompassin said slide member and slidabl connecte with said guide member, a tubu ar rotatable adjusting nut, a complementary spiral connection between said adjusting nut and the tubular slidable member, and a complementary flange and groove connection between said adjusting nut and mouthpiece holder to prevent longitudinal movement of said adjusting nut when the latter is rotated, said connection including a ring-like thrust member which is rigidly mounted in the bore of said mouthpiece holder.

8. A combined tuning device and joint of the character described comprisin a tubular mouthpiece holder, a ring-1i e guide member provided with an enlarged head which is rigidly mounted in said holder, a tubular slide member rigidly mounted in said guide member, a tubular member slidably encompassing said slide member and slidably connected with said guide member, a tubular rotatable adjusting nut, a complementary spiral connection between said adjusting nut and the tubular slidable memher, and a complementary flange and groove connection between said adjusting nut and mouthpiece holder to prevent longitudinal movement of said adjusting nut when the latter is rotated, said connection including a ring-like thrust member which is removably mounted in the bore of said holder.

ALLEN LOOMIS. 

